Preston Johnson, 22, had just gotten out of class in Eugene when he got the call from a casting agency: “Do you still have long hair?” they asked. A couple weeks, hair length confirmation and multiple auditions later, the University of Oregon student was kickin’ it on the set of a small film called Twilight with actors Kristen Stewart (Bella), Robert Pattinson (Edward) and the rest of the vampy gang—paid around $150 a day to pile on pale make-up and fight off crazed fans and TwilightMoms as Pattison’s photo/stunt double on the film’s Oregon set. As New Moon, the second film installment of the mega-popular book series, hits theaters and decimates box office records, Johnson looked back on his three months of filming as the other Edward.

WW: How did you first hear about the job? Did you have to audition?

Preston Johnson: Actually, it’s a weird story. I had been somewhat of a skating double for Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park and [the agency] must have saved my file. I had to do about 5 or 6 interviews. It was a pain in the ass because I was doing school in Eugene and was driving back and forth to audition. I almost dropped out of the running. But then they decided to use me as Robert’s stand-in. I just had to stand there while they tested lighting. But then I got talking to the director, and he liked me, so he promoted me to a photo double, where they shot me for crane work or behind-the-head-shots.

Had you ever read Twilight?

No, I still haven’t read the books! I’ve only read the scripts. I don’t even think Robert had read it when we were filming. (Gozde: yeah sure, we all know how much Rob hates reading... *eye roll*)

Had you heard about it?

No, no one knew about Twilight when we started working on it. No one knew it was going to be as big as it is today. It was a very calm set. There were no fans until the very end of the shoot. By the end there were teenage girls and the TwilightMoms. This bunch of moms would just sit around all day and take pictures. But even then, no one had any idea how big it was going to be. When it came out, I talked to Rob, and to be honest, I just don’t think he was ready for that kind of attention.

So you still talk to Robert?

He changed his phone number, but I can’t blame him for that. We talked for a little bit. I have Kristen’s number. I called her last month to say hi. But they have busy lives.

Is Kristen Stewart as big of a bitch as she seems? (Gozde: Wow!Just wow!)

The first week, it was kind of awkward. I felt like I had gotten to know her a little. But we were sitting together at lunch one day, just talking, and I said “Hey Kristen, how is filming going?” She blew up at me. “Preston! Don’t ask me how filming is going! I hate when people ask me that!” I got upset. Like, ‘oh sorry you’re the fucking star of the movie Kristen, my bad for asking you how it was going.’(Gozde: And yet you still called her last week to say hi? What happened did she not recognize you?)

Do you think that they’re dating?

No, I don’t think so. There was no chemistry on set. Robert… I just don’t think Kristen is his type of style. He’s a really shy kid. I think he’s only had one girlfriend ever.(Gozde: ♫♫♫Who is the bitterest man in the living room? The bitterest man in the living room?♫♫♫ You may be Robsten, nonsten or crapsten but I don't think anyone can deny their chemistry.)

What was the best thing about being in Twilight?

Filming the stunts for the baseball scene in the first movie. I wasn’t even supposed to be in it. I was just sitting on set and got a call on the radio. “Preston! We need you in the jeep!” And they just threw me in the car with the Bella double and said “Gun it!” It was this narrow gravel road and I was going as fast as I could, fish tailing around turns. There was a lake on one side and a big drop on the other. I thought ‘If I make one wrong move, we’re totaling this car,’ but all I could hear was the director through the radio yelling “Faster, faster!”

Did you work on New Moon at all?

No, unfortunately I did not work on New Moon, mainly because everyone besides the main cast members were new—including the director. Catherine [Hardwicke] decided not to work on the series again so everyone who wasn’t an immediate cast member was dropped. Another reason was that New Moon was shot in Canada and it would of cost them a substantial amount of money to fly me there and pay for everything. However, I did receive an e-mail from my agency saying that the fourth movie will be shot here in Portland and that I will still be considered for the part. (Gozde: Even after this interview? Really?)

Any movie plans in the future?

Right now I’m really focused on finishing school, which if I’m lucky should be at the end of this summer. In my spare time I really enjoy playing ice hockey and snowboarding. Ice hockey is a huge part of my life, my grandpa was a pro hockey player and played for many different teams, including the Portland Buckaroos. After school, I’m planning on devoting some time on my acting career. Acting has always been a passion of mine from the time I was 10-years old. I think because of my sense of humor and goofy personality, acting has always seemed to just fit in with my way of life. I really feel like this is what I was meant to do.

Do you ever still get stopped on the street or mistaken for Robert Pattison?

I have gotten stopped a few times. Actually, when I went and saw New Moon last week I got stopped. I thought I was going to disappoint them. You know, “oh, actually I’m not Robert, I’m just his photo double.” But they freaked out when I told them! They were so excited. Teenage girls are crazy.(Gozde: Sorry to break it to you but you really don't look like him. Did you see the movie in a theater for visually impared people?)

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comments:

This guy must have been crushing on Kristen or something, Rob was a smart cookie to change his number cos this dude would probably have sold it on ebay... Kristen should do the same. I think yep he had a crush on her (maybe he still does LOL) and got turned down...

Oh god, don't we all know boys like this one who hangs by really close to you and you pretend to be reading a newspaper with great interest while he just sits there staring and asking you what you are doing.

And the millionth time he asks you what you are doing, when it's obvious you are ignoring him and pretending to read a book you yell, "what the &*#( does it look like I'm doing??"

And obviously Robert read the book thoroughly, he argued with SM about her spotty characterizations of Edward in some areas. LOL

He didn't believe Rob had read the book at that time. He said nothing about a dislike of reading.

Kristen snapped at him She was 17 and the star of a film. She's been emotional quite a few times. That's not a stretch.

He said Rob wasn't ready for the attention. ROB said that Rob wasn't ready for the attention.

He said Rob changed his number and understood why.

He said he called Kristen to see how she was doing. That denotes that he didn't bear a grudge against her. He said nothing else bad other than recounting what she herself had done.

And he claimed there was no chemistry. I didn't see it. I saw Kristen making fun of him throughout the first promotion, give him exasperated looks, acting like a sister if anything. The chemistry crap was perpetuated by CH who needed to sell her choice of Edward to Twihards. If they have developed it since then, by their own admission, it was from going throught the insanity together.

So yes, these were the reactions of a 12 year old girl. Are you going to crack your gum and threaten to wait for me in the schoolyard to settle this later? LOL!

i have to say- call me crazy- but when i went to see Twilight- i had not heard one thing about it other than- read the books and see the movie- i never knew anything about rob and KS and chemistry. That being said- while watching twilight i was expecting this big - i don't know- this big change that one does when they are so inlove. Never happened. I thought there was ZERO chemistry between the two- the bedroom scene was hot- but i never felt like there was any chemistry between them. Since i had read the book- i knew how she felt about him- but until the words came out of her mouth...'i'm irrevocably in love with him' i would have never known how she felt cause she never showed it. So that being said- i can totally see how there was no chemistry on set. We all see things differently- so don't go bashing me! I saw New Moon- loved it- and it was hard to say if they had chemistry in it cause i was so enthralled at watching him and anticipation of it. I do believe part of what i felt is KS's Bella is NOT the Bella i read and so i never felt she 'got' it. Rob- totally nailed Edward to a T. So anyway- i have to disagree with Gozde- i saw ZERO chemistry between them in Twilight.

LOL Sam, no bashing here :) I agree about Twilight, I thought the movie was BAD. I blamd Catherine Hardwicke for that, all those stares were just so dull BUT when you watched the behind the scenes stuff Rob and Kristen had mad chemistry. Just look at the pix from the press tour of Twilight or check out the Twilight tuesday videos from MTV and you'll see.

Godze-YES I have to AGREE 100% with that! The behind the scene videos and stuff - they were very friendly and affectionate- very good chemistry- yes i totally see that! I agree Twilight was sooo bad- but sooo worth watching just to look at that beautiful creature God made.... le sighhhh...I am also not a Rosten- i am begining to wonder though.. but not sold yet :)

Hey i was wondering - does anyone know of these stunt girls on twitter who claim to have worked on all three films? I think they are Allie and TJ? I haven't been able to find their names on ANY of the cast and crew on Twilight, New Moon or Eclipse... Just wondering...

French-here's my only probably with this kid. if you have a person's number, and you say you just called them the other week, it's inferrred your friends.

When the interviewer calls said friend a bitch, the normal reaction of a friend is to defend the friend, or say that's not appropriate at the very least.

But the guy doesn't do it, he let's it slide, and then gives a specific example of? Kristen being a bitch.

Kristen and Robert both had a number of bitchfits on the set, it's been detailed in the past. What he offered was nothing too revelatory.

What the problem is hearing someone call your alleged friend a bitch, and you roll with it. lol

The only way that answer is redeemable is if he put it in context and said something else about her other than being a bitch to show they became friends, and the interviewer simply cut and pasted. I could see that happening.

as for lack of chemistry in the film--I thought the bedroom scene was hot. But their back and forth conversations were lacking heat.

I blame a myriad of reasons:

1) Rob insisting on making himself look in pain just being near her all the time. Poor mijo looked like he just needed to go to the bathroom most of the time around Bella!

2) Crap directing and editing.

3) Deleting major scenes from the book that would have helped cemented why they are falling for eachother. And deleting more bouyant moments between the two. They have deleted scenes of Rob and Kristen improvising and those playful scenes were SORELY needed--too much "bella, I love you, but I want to eat you!" emo crap.

OMG! I just remembered this- ok so i bought haunted Airman and watched it online the other night- there is a scene in it where his aunt/GF is running her hands through his hair and this incredible close up goes on his ear and back of his head- there is SERIOUS MAJOR ear crud in his ear!!!!!! I wish i had got the time as to where it is on the film- i will look later- but it is sooooo obvious- if I saw it how could editing NOT see that?!!! Anyone know what i am talking about??

he mentioned no chemistry on the set. Well, Robert has spoken about the fact that he thought the whole cast must have thought he was a complete weirdo for the first month or so, because he isolated himself, doing the method thing. Even Kristen told him later he was very unapproachable and made her reticent with him.

Robert also said that him and Kristen are very competitive. And at some point, they became competitive against everyone else, and his bubble of one turned into a bubble of two in that sense.

So Robert himself spoke about the tnesion on the set. So did other cast members-Rachelle mentioned that Robert and Kristen were like an old married couple-fighting like cats and dogs one moment, laughing the next.

@Rosa: disagree. I thought there were several scenes that played well between them, including the scene in his bedroom and the prom scene. I also think that Rob's choice took it out of the level of teen romance and into something else. Rather the risk and failing somewhat than sticking to the easy path.

A-sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't for me, Rob's way of approaching Edward. I actually like his take on Edward more than SM!

I do think under better circumstances in regards to a better script, better editing, better directing, Robert's interpretation could have been better realized.

But when he has an 80's power guitar solo in the background, and a peacoat on, and Kristen blinking too much, and horrid lines to deliver--I think attempting a more nuanced performance sometimes just didn't work.

I loved the prom scene too by the way, that was gorgeous. But like the greenhouse where stupid CH gives us no context, and Edward's angry and making a bunch of faces? It's hard to put into context especially if you haven't read the books.

there was soooo much left out of the movie- like in the books there were all these circumstances that made bella and edward cross paths as he was trying to stay away from her-and thats when he was like- i can't be your friend. But in the movie he just kept coming up to her saying, 'i can't be your friend'- which looked stupid cause someone who had not read the books would go-'but dude, YOU keep going up to HER'.

OMG Sam....AAAARRRRRRRGGGGG I had to make a comment. I thought I was the only one who noticed the ear wax in "The Haunted Airman". LMAO....But, I just over looked it because it was our dear Rob.....TOO FUNNY!!!

Regarding the missing scenes. I really wanted the see the blood testing scene which lead to the ride home in the car and such. I also wanted to see Rosalie and Jasper's reaction to Bella's scent when Edward picked them up afterwards. Damn!

ha that is funny...here is the thing...i am sure that kristen did say basically f*** off to him BUT why do people see it as a bad thing? that is how she is and she is not pretentious and she does not suffer fools gladly and if you do not like it then you do not understand nor do you like her...that is what makes her "intimidating and serious" people....she is not trying to win a popularity contest i actually think that was what was most intriguing to rob in the beginning ..you know crack her shell and all....the stunt double guy is just trying to cash in on the fandom...i bet kristen barely remembers him

@Rosa: Glad you liked his take,even if not fully realized, and, yes, there was some odd editing in the whole field trip/greenhouse sequence, I agree. And other places where sequences were strangely truncated.

It was essential the prom scene worked, as that's the last impression for the audience, and what they would walk out with, and I think it did deliver, too.

Hmm. I didn't get a bitter vibe from this. He hasn't had media training yet! Easy to say something in an unfortunate way when you're put on the spot and have only spare seconds to respond to admittedly leading and inappropriate questions. And we know how interviews sometimes get edited or cut and pasted, recycled out of context, etc. Interviews are difficult, and it's not uncommon to have them end up making you look, as Rob would say, "like an idiot". I personally would be awful at interviews like that. Anyway, I don't think he meant to be negative. :)

gracie- hahaha yeah i thought it wasn't for real and i stopped that thing- it was on my laptop right in bed and i sat up and rewound that and paused it on it! Hahahah Poor guy gets scrutinized in every turn.. but for real- i saw it why didn't editing???

I have to agree that I saw more sizzling chemistry during the Twilight promotional tour than I did in the finished film. However I've seen some outtakes where the pheromones are flying, just wish CH had put more of that into the movie.

That said: the dancing scene in Edward's bedroom is a moment of pure, unadulterated yearning that is hotter than most raw lust. That scene is a gem... (until he jumps out of that damn window!)

Wow. I can't imagine ANYONE being so stupid as to speak his every thought aloud to a mag who would print it. What are you stupid? He just ruined former friendships and probably also his career. Who wants to hire someone who speaks crap about them afterwards.

what an a** sorry but true. 1. he doesnt look ANYTHING like Rob, 2 he dies for attention and seems to be a little *A LOT* arrogant. and yes now i LOVE KRISTEN haha... not really but that dude is so NOT a good person like Robbie. :) peace, love, ROBERT.

Who knows about this guy? We shouldn't make assumptions just because we read something. Man, this is why I like VIDEO interviews because you know, mostly (ugh, with all the technology these days..) that it's from the horse's mouth.

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